Final

Issued by: Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Issue Date: May 08, 2000

To:

State Agencies Administering or Supervising an Approved TANF (IV-A) Program and Other Interested Parties

Subject:

Joint Guidance on Strategies to Enhance the Recruitment, Referral, Eligibility Determination, and Service Provision Processes between Welfare-to-Work (WtW), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Child Support Enforcement (CSE) entities.

References:

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193), Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-33) amending Title IV-A of the Social Security Act, Title IV-A and Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-200), Title VIII of H.R. 3424, the Welfare to Work and Child Support Amendments of 1999 (Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2000, Pub. L. 106-113), Welfare-to-Work Grants Interim Final Rule, 20 CFR Part 645 (62 Fed. Reg. 61588 (Nov. 18, 1997)), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Final Rule, 45 CFR Part 260-265 (64 Fed. Reg. 17719 (April 12, 1999)).

Purpose:

To transmit guidance developed jointly by the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Labor (DOL).  This guidance addresses challenges encountered by WtW, TANF, and CSE entities in the provision of services to WtW participants, and seeks to assist States and local communities to improve WtW program operations and enhance inter-agency collaboration.

Background:

Throughout the late spring and summer of 1999, Regional Office DOL-Employment and Training Administration (ETA) staff planned and facilitated WtW-TANF referral conferences in partnership with their HHS-Administration for Children and Families (ACF) counterparts.  These conferences were held to identify specific challenges encountered by State and local WtW and TANF staff with regard to the recruitment, referral, eligibility determination, and service provision functions for WtW eligible individuals and participants.  Regions provided conference reports to the DOL-ETA National Office.  This guidance contains the most frequently identified challenges and the most innovative and feasible strategies for the improvement of program operations described in the conference reports.  Additionally, this guidance addresses changes and issues that arose as a result of the WtW 1999 Amendments, which were enacted on November 29, 1999.

This guidance was developed jointly by DOL-ETA and HHS-ACF, and is being issued simultaneously to the WtW, TANF, and child support systems.  The guidance focuses upon two major subject areas: (1) recruitment, referral, and eligibility determination for TANF recipients in WtW programs; and (2) recruitment, enrollment, and confidentiality issues for noncustodial parents (NCPs) in WtW programs.  The "Operational Suggestions" sections in each subject area include functional steps and methods for improving inter-agency program operation and performance.  "Policy Guidance" sections clarify and reinforce existing statutory and regulatory mechanisms, including changes incorporated in the 1999 Amendments, intended to enhance and improve the ability of the three systems to work together efficiently and effectively.

Action:

Please distribute the joint guidance to all State and local staff involved in the provision of services to WtW participants, welfare recipients, and noncustodial parents.

Attachments:

Joint guidance from DOL-ETA and HHS-ACF on Strategies to Enhance the Recruitment, Referral, Eligibility Determination, and Service Provision Processes between WtW, TANF, and CSE Entities.

Inquiries:

Inquiries from WtW grantees should be addressed to grantees’ Grant Officer Technical Representatives (GOTRs), or to the appropriate Regional Office contacts.  Regional Office contacts are located on the Internet at the following locations:

Employment and Training Administration, Division of Welfare-to-Work (WTW, DOL)
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance (TANF, HHS)
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE, HHS)

Alvin Collins
Director
Office of Family Assistance

DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.